Billy Donovan must feel he is practicing through quicksand. For every day you learn the Bulls roster, a day when you answer questions about the ambiguous availability of players. For each rotation experiment, a spontaneous absence. Or four.
Nevertheless, the show continues. And it continued uncomfortably on Thursday, especially thanks to the benefits of a new squadron of the bank, with Thad Young and Daniel Gafford. With Otto Porter Jr. who jumped to the place of Markkanen with the starting lineup, the two, plus Garrett Temple and Denzel Valentine, combined for 41 points at 62.1 percent against Washington.
‘I give those guys a lot of credit. “Those guys are good enough to start, but they were overall teammates,” Donovan said of the Bulls reserves. “Bringing the guys in and keeping them ready and focused and knowing what to do can definitely help if you can generate such offenses from the bench.”
Gafford was his hyper-energetic self, influencing the game with his length and activity on the defensive side, and rattling fields on the other. He finished the night with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, and shot an uber-effective 7-for-8 from the field and recorded a game-high +23 plus-minus.
He was an integral part of a 10-0 Wizards run in the middle of the second quarter, which contained four Bulls turnovers and threatened their understanding in the game. He made a similar impact in the third, when the Bulls beat a 10-2 Wizards out of the half by outscoring the hosts 34-22 in the final nine minutes of the period.
“We have come a long way from the first three games we played. We learned lessons on how to deal with adversity. There were times in those games we played, and in the beginning when we lost, there were times like, we basically gave up. We are looked out spiritually. We did not do the things we did in the games we won, ‘said Gafford. “Adversity was a big thing with us.”
Donovan agreed Thursday was a step in the right direction in that department.
And what about a little personal adversity? Gafford’s outing was just when he was apparently able to make a turn on a rotation spot with Donovan’s successful swing of Lauri Markkanen as the functional rugby center for Carter. Gafford did not see the word in the last-second loss to Golden State on Sunday, scoring just six minutes in Tuesday’s first Wizards victory.
‘Just be patient, be professional. “Sometimes you will not be able to get what you want when it comes to playing time and things like that,” said Gafford. ‘But guys on the couch came through and we did what we had to do. We came out. We stayed ready. We came out and played the ball we always play. ”
“I really appreciate him keeping himself ready and being professional as a young player,” Donovan said of Gafford. “I thought he was a presence, defensive, on the edge and I thought he was offensively present.”
Meanwhile, Young made his debut in 2020-21 on Thursday – both before and during the regular season – after struggling with a serious bone infection for almost three weeks. He then said he had mastered with just one 5-on-5 session, but he barely watched it and scored 15 points, six assists and two steals in 27 minutes.
‘I’m prepared for anything. For me, it’s just going to be out there playing basketball. This is a game I like. And I play with a passion, so I’m one of those guys who will always stay ready, no matter what, ‘Young said.
Indeed, Young have been doing this for a while. 14 years to be exact – for good and bad teams, in roles stable and oscillating.
But he even surprised himself with that final line, and his ability to conclude the strictly controversial fourth quarter effectively at the center of the small ball.
“I was actually shocked that my rhythm and timing were still there,” he cracked, later praising the Bulls’ strength coaches for helping him get into play quickly.
Donovan was also a bit overwhelmed by Young’s play. Kind of.
“I think surprised and not surprised,” he said. “Probably more surprised by the fact that he (Young) could not really do anything in the training camp. And when you see how he manages to play slowly again, it’s amazing to me at his age how fast he can bounce back and get himself in shape. His toughness and endurance are really impressive. There are certain guys who, when they get tired, have the ability to push through fatigue. He has the ability …
“He has a very, very unique game. Those little push shots and drivers and left-handers, he’s a little off balance but has a good touch around the edge. And he’s really a good passer. I thought he made some amazing passes to Gaff and Wendell. It was great to have him as a playmaker. We can get him in the bag and he can play in the middle of the floor. ”
Even missing Tomáš Satoranský, that the veteran presence with Temple and Porter can still be a blessing for these young Bulls.
“We are very proud. Garrett and Thad, they are both veterinarians. They are both experienced veterinarians. Denzel, he just comes in and he plays his game. “I and all the other guys on the bench, we just come in and do what we have to do,” Gafford said. “We remain locked up. We stay ready. When it comes to the fact that we have to act and be able to play like we played tonight, that’s a big thing for the team. ”
This point becomes especially important that the length of Satoranský, Markkanen, Ryan Arcidiacono and Chandler Hutchison’s absence remains in the air. Donovan confirmed that none of them would travel to Milwaukee for Friday’s fight with the Bucks. There was not much clarity then.
Reinforced by the push of Donovan on the button, the Bulls will meanwhile continue to handle matters.
“We have a lot of potential. We just need to stay locked up. “We can give ourselves a pat on the back for this victory, but we have to stay locked in because we will get another one tomorrow,” said Gafford. “We came in and we had a business trip, and we came away with 2-0.”
Reality soon calls in the form of the Bucks.